The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-12-24
A STUDENTS VACATION.
A CORNELL MAN HIRES OUT TO
DRIVE A CANAL BOAT.

Very Enjoyable Sort OF Existence-Ad-
vantagcs of Spending Summer on the
Tow Patll-The Captains Daughter.
Exchange of Magazines.
y reporter walking up the tow path at
lower Black Rock one day overlook u canal
boat, on whose stern was painted "Polly
Forbes Of Schenectady" In minute more
he had come up with the mules and their
driver. Under the mules collars were great
ring, OF raw flesh, constantly chafed and irri-
tated by the hot leather. They limped pain
fully onward, too hopelessly wretched to re-
sent the jerks and scourgngs of the driver,
who himself seemed n fitting companion for
his beasts, for whenever the dust discovered
his clothing it was n mass of patches, and q
torn wide brimmed straw hat protected his
head.
"l1ello!" said he as the reporter came along,
would you be kind enough to tell me the
time"
Half past H.
"Ah, thank you; half all hour till dinner
time, and I'm hungry enough now to eat both
Pegasus and Bucephalus. They're tho am
bling stcels you see before you. Full Of fire,
especially under their collars. They look O
little weary HOW, for they've been OH the
tramp for ten days nearly"
"And You have almost as hard lot as tho
mules, l fancy
"Wcll, that's just as you look at it. rather
like it myself. Ofcourse get footsore on the
tow path, but then when I'm Off can't do
much but rest and read. I've been reading
considerable of Tcnnyson and Browning this
summer
"Hey!' said tho astonished reporter.
"Iennyson and Browning. began THE
Ting and tho Book six weeks ago on tho up
trip from New York I'm making study of
it. You see we can hardly keep up with cur
rent literature in college"
"ln college,"
CORNELL STUDENT.
Yes; am Cornell man, aud spend my
summers Oh tho towpath. That is, 1 have tho
the last two. The first summer hired out as
waiter at Il seaside hotel, but my rich south
ern blood couldn't stand it; SO the last two
summers I've followed tho profession Of
mule driver. OF course, l have to stand round
and obey orders; but look out for good
captain, and so don't have it SO rough as some
of them"
"But don't you have to put up with many
privations!'
oh, no; just come aboard at dinner time,
and you can SEQ for yourself. Tho walking Is
beneficial to ones health, and while tho feet
get sore at first that quickly wears off. Then,
too, the canal passes through some of the rich
est farming country in tho state and l
wouldn't ask for finer scenery than that in the
Mohawk and Hudson river valleys"
a hail from tho boat caused tho driver to
pull up his mules until they fairly rested OIL
their launches A gangway was laid across to
the bank and tile mate came ashore to take the
place of the driver, who went aboard, followed
by the reporter. Near the middle of the deck
| was pail which the driver let down into the
canal and brought up full OF water in which
| no washed himself.
~ don't believe tho women folks vii make
fuss said lie. "1f they do I'll tell them you're
u chlm OF Mine.'
IT,. led the way TO the cabin steps, down
which lie disappeared, followed by his COM
lihlon. Before the reporter could take note Of
the cabin he became aware that u buxom
young woman was doing up her hair before
small looking glass which hung over very
small bureau. Slo wasn't half so disconnected
as lie was, however, and when the driver had
explained his companions appearance sho
calmly proceeded with her toilet
The cabin stretched clear across tho boat,
somo ten or twelve feet, and was some seven
feet deep. Doors opened out Of it to the berths
i'll the rear. Snow white muslin curtains hung
at the little windows. On the floor was q
bright ingram carpet. Vases and knicknacks
covered the top of the bureau.
a brown entllenwarc pot of tea sung OH the
tiny stovc and the table, spread with a snowy
cloth, was set with stone china dishes and
wooden handled knives and three tined forks
THE CAPTAINS DAUGHTER.
The dinner, while not elegant, was hearty
There was corned beef, with boiled potatoes,
green corn and tomatoes, everything well
cooked. The captains daughter, for she it
was, presently tore herself from the glass and
sat down to pour the tea. She wore q blue
and white striped calico gown, silver
brooch and q celluloid comb, and tho canal
driver addressed her as Polly. She talked
like u woman born to command, and her con-
versation was interspersed with forcibe slang
expressions.
A savory apple pie was put on the table for
dessert, and tho canal driver remarked that
he always ate largely Of it, because he con-
sidered it on excellent brain food.
We have un economical way of reading
the magazines" said he. ''You may have
imagined that canal men are an illiterate lot.
| They arc, as u rule, but there are exceptions,
and n good many of them Now, the captain
of this boat has n chum on the canal who is a
great reader. He usually makes a trip east,
while we're coming west.
so when The Harper comes out in New
York hc buys it, and in the five days before
he meets us he reads it all through; then
when he passes us throws the magazine to US.
We do the same thing with The Century,
buying it in Buffalo and handing it over to
him when we meet. Have another piece
Of pie. No! Oh, yes, this way of passing
the summer is infinitely preferable to
being coopcd up in a hotel as waiter.
Now, here l AM practically independent;
| can wear the worst clothes in the
world; the food is good as think you will
admit; the work is healthy, and not only
gives one whitTs Of the country air, but puts
you i'll contact with all sorts Of queer char
acters. The trip down the Hudson in the
tow is worth fortune to any observing per-
son. The money we get, you see, is clear
gain. When l go back to Ithaca in three
weeks I'll be $50 in pocket, to say nothing of
the experience and pleasure gained"
The driver here showed back his chair and
led the way to the desk The boat was
slowly approaching the Georgia street bridge.
There said the driver, most people
imagine that tue canal is as nosome and
ugly as this is all the way 10 Albany It's q
great mistake. Ii you want to enjoy your
self next summer turn canal driver. You'll
never regret ii"
AS the boa, swung under the bridge the
reporter caught the girders and pulled him
self up The scholar Of the tow path waved
his hand and the captains daughter came up
the cabin stairs and looked back pleasantly
through the funnel of her calico sun bonnet
Slowly tie CALLED aud jaded mules pulled the
boat on, and five minutes later the Polly
Forbes was lost in q snarl of boats at the foot
! of Erie street-Buffalo Courier.
High Priced Peaches Abroad.
An American who recently returned from